The decision to start your own business can be met with a lot of skepticism, uncertainty, and doubt. Yes, it can be a little scary leaving the comfort of a traditional 9-5 job to go out and try something on your own. But, despite the doubt and concerning thoughts, there is an opportunity to do something really great and unique.
While the naysayers in your life may come up with several reasons as to why you shouldn’t work for yourself and start your own business, we’ve come up with the 20 best reasons why you should start your own business!
1. Opportunities
In today’s world, it seems like there are countless ways to get your business out there. In the old days, starting your own business meant cold calls, having a physical building, and all of these other hurdles in the way. Now, with the internet, all you need is a couple of small steps, and you’re on your way to owning your own online business!
From social media to crowdfunding, there are all kinds of amazing opportunities to get your idea and business out into the world, and there’s no better time to start a new business than in today’s day and age.
2. Utilize Your Skills
At a traditional job, you may only be utilizing one specific skill. Maybe it’s a skill that you received while attending a college or trade school, but there’s so much more to you than that one thing.
Starting your own business will allow you to utilize all of the skills and talents that you have acquired over time. It will pull from all of your strengths and allow you to create something that leaves you feeling accomplished.
3. Embrace a Challenge
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway! Starting your own business isn’t for the faint of heart! In fact, it’s for the person who jumps to action when the going gets tough.
Roy T. Bennett says it best by stating, “When things do not go your way, remember that every challenge — every adversity — contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth.” If this quote resonates with you and you love a good challenge, then you are definitely a candidate for starting your own business.
4. Embrace Your Originality
Starting your own business (generally) means that you have created something that is unique. There may be similar ideas, similar products, or similar business plans, but no one has ever done it EXACTLY how you would do it. Think about it…
By creating a business, you have created something original to put out into the world. What an incredible feeling..
5. Make a Difference
While anyone in the world can make a difference, owning your own business gives you an especially unique perspective and opportunity to do so. You are in charge of where every penny goes in your business, which will give you the opportunity to donate to causes that you are passionate about on a regular basis. Or, you can even use your services and products to make a difference. Either way, you choose how your company will affect others and the community around you.
6. Feel Proud
Sadly, many people don’t leave the end of their workday feeling proud of the work that they accomplished. This is mostly due to the fact that they may not even be passionate about what they do and are simply working there to get a paycheck. However, if you have your own business, every step of the way is an opportunity to reflect and think, “Wow, I really did that!” Ending each day feeling proud of the type of work and quality of work you accomplished is such an important reason to start your own business.
7. More Time
Finding more free time won’t happen overnight. To get a business up and running, it will actually require a great deal of time and energy. However, if you’re patient, you will find that eventually, you will have a lot more free time when compared with a typical 9-5 job.
8. Flexibility
From the start, having your own business will allow you to have a lot more flexibility. Have a doctor’s appointment? Want to attend a child’s school program? Want to work from vacation? The answer will always be a resounding yes! Being in charge of your own business allows you to be more flexible with your schedule, allowing you to plan accordingly around things you want to do instead of having to ask for time off.
9. Learn New Skills
This is a BIG one. If you’re are the type of person who just loves to learn, then owning your own business is definitely the right move. Say your business creates custom products, so you are well versed in how to create the product, but you need to know how to market it.
There are countless resources out there, like ours that share how to begin your social media outreach or SEO strategies for small businesses. You can learn through articles, different online tutorials, programs, courses, etc. Thanks to technology, a wealth of knowledge is constantly a click away!
10. Get Creative
There’s no better way to get your creative juices flowing than by starting your own business! From problem-solving to creating logos and designing products and services, there is room for creativity at every twist and turn.
11. It’s Interesting
Whenever someone asks, “What do you do?” You can greet that question with excitement and passion, which is a lot more than most people can do. Having your own business is exciting and a great conversation starter and icebreaker.
12. Reinvent Yourself
Essentially, there’s no age requirement for starting your own business. Whether you’re in college figuring things out or have been at the same employer for over 20 years, starting a business is a way to reinvent yourself. You can give yourself a fresh start no matter where you are along the journey of your career, and that can be incredibly rewarding.
13. Financial Independence
While it shouldn’t be the sole motivator for starting your own business, seeking and achieving financial independence is a really important reason to start your own business. The potential for profits and wealth accumulation through starting your own business is limitless.
14. Create Jobs
On top of creating your own financial independence through starting your own business, you’ll also be able to create jobs and help others achieve this dream!
15. Leave a Legacy
If you want to build a business and pour all of your hard work into it, it’s really nice to know that you could potentially leave the business to your children or family. You build something from scratch, and when you’re ready to retire, you have something to give to your family. They can continue your legacy for years to come, and that is simply incredible.
16. Networking
Once you enter the world of entrepreneurship, you will automatically start making connections. From other small business owners to new clients and customers, your inner circle will really grow as you enter this amazingly unique community.
17. Job Security
Starting your own business means that you never have to worry about getting fired or let go! You are in charge of your business, and you are responsible for its success. If you put in the hard work and dedication, you will never have to worry about job security ever again!
18. Tax Benefits
This may not jump to the forefront of your mind when considering starting your own business, but there are some major tax benefits for people who own their own business. With the right accountant and/or research, you can learn about all of the things you could write off if they help your company including business meetings at lunch, travel, office supplies, and so much more.
19. Find Happiness
Starting your own business could eventually lead you to happiness and a sense of fulfillment that you really can’t match with any other occupation. It’s not going to be all sparkles and rainbows, but at the end of each day, you’ll have something that is authentically and uniquely yours, and that can definitely bring happiness.
20. Journey
Ultimately, there’s just something about having your own business and experiencing the journey of creating something from nothing that takes your career from boring and mundane to exciting. There will be lots of ups and downs along the way, but when you look back on your experience, you’ll be thankful for the journey of how you got here.
While some may come up with a list of reasons why you shouldn’t start your own business, keep in mind that a lot of those reasons are rooted in fear. Fear that you won’t succeed. Fear that your idea won’t work. But, if you have the dedication and mindset of never giving up, there are way more reasons to start your own business than to miss out on all of the reasons listed above and more!
